How about respecting our beliefs?  Hilton certainly didn't respect Prejean's belief that marriage is between one man, one woman...nor does he respect the beliefs of the Californians who voted for Prop. 8 and the beliefs of the other voters across the nation who voted similarly.

Instead, they go to the courts so activist judges can overturn our beliefs.

But we're supposed to respect them.

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

Perez Hilton (aka. Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr.) wants to have his cake and eat it too.  It is an impossible feat for those whom he expects to find a way for him to be able to this, yet it is easy for him to state his own solution to the problem....one in which he was not asked for his input.  How did Mario manage to come across in this manner?  He did so by stating that he wished that she had left 'her politics' and 'her religion' out of her answer, while asking her a very loaded question.

I think that anyone who has ever heard of Mario, read his blogs or seen him screaming his opinion at the top of his lungs knows that to him there was one and only one correct answer to that question.  The only answer that he wanted to hear was that Miss California (who represents ALL Californians, key word ALL) thought that gay marriage should be a given in every state, without doubt attached.  What a coup it would have been if he could have gotten the girl that is a representative of her ENTIRE state, to say that she believed gay marriage was the right thing for everyone especially given the fact that her state is the one that has been battling the legalities of this very subject for so long. 

I think that Mario saw Miss California as the PERFECT propaganda tool in light of last year's Proposition 8 voting controversy and the fact that litigation is still ongoing regarding this very subject.  I mean, if you can get the hometown girl next door who is supposed to be a mantle of the state, to say that gay marriage should be allowed the question would then be asked...why should ANYONE object?  No, unfortunately Miss California has principles which she did not compromise for a crown and a title.  She is secure enough in her own skin to not make an attempt at being someone else in order to please the populist crowd...which really ISN'T that populist in CA after all.  If it was, then Prop 8 would have been defeated and that would have been in end, well the end in CA at least and it would have set precedent elsewhere.

I think that is it is a shame that Mario (who apparently isn't that comfortable in his own name, much less his own skin) can't respect an individual's right to their own beliefs and opinions if they contradict with his own.  I also think that it is ridiculous to ask a question which is steeped in religious morals and political controversy and then say that one's own religion and politics should be kept out of an answer at the risk of 'alienating' others.  The fact is, no matter how Miss California elucidated her answer she would have "offended" or "alienated" a cross section of the population.  State yes, gay marriage should be allowed in all states and offense will be taken by moderates, evangelicals and those that identify themselves as religious.  State no, gay marriage should not be allowed, the definition should remain traditional in nature and a majority of the gay population plus the liberal and populist sectors will be offended.  And worst of all, answer the question as Mario suggested (48 hours after the fact) that the decision should remain on the state level and accusations of political posturing, political correctness and populist mentality will be thrown...and would have stuck as well because that wouldn't have been an answer at all, at least not as the question was phrased.

So either way you have it a yes or no answer would have offended in a religious and/or political manner.  The only solution that I believe Miss California had to this quandary was to answer the question, as asked, to the best of her ability while staying true to herself in the end.  Who would you rather represent you....a lying populist or an honest black sheep?  I would take the honest black sheep any day.  I am not a fan of Mario's.  I am not a watcher of the Miss USA competition (or other pageants for that matter), avid or otherwise.  Honestly I am one of those chicks that really still doesn't know the difference between Miss USA, Miss America or any other Miss...in fact the only differentiating factor that I know of comes into play when you add the Mrs. in front of the title rather than the Miss.  I claim complete ignorance on the matter of this type of competition, not even knowing that one was being held at the time...the only reason this one came to my attention was due to the fact of this absurd "controversy".  That being said, even though I am not a Mario fan or a Miss-Whatever watcher, I do have an opinion on the behavior exhibited by both judge and competitor in this case. 

I believe that the competitor's answer should be taken in the spirit in which it was intended....an honest answer a loaded question on a hot button subject.  I believe her kept her dignity and maintained her poise throughout, even going so far as to apologize to any that might have been offended at her candor.  On the other end of the spectrum I believe that Mario used a harmless beauty pageant as a vehicle to further his own beliefs and causes and more importantly to create and stir controversy which is his stock in trade.  I am sure that his web site is booming following this incident and of course a booming site equals more advertising dollars and more publicity for himself. 

Not only was it despicable behavior on Mario's part to promote his own personal agenda in a forum such as this, but I find it absolutely disgusting that he would insult, degrade and smear ANY individual for being honest in their answer, no matter how unpopular that stance may be.  I congratulate Miss California for a job well done throughout, but more importantly I have enormous respect for Carrie Prejean...the girl without the tiara and sash, for maintaining her self respect and not wavering from her values in the process.

The left will never respect our beliefs unless ours becomes theirs.

"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."

Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941

that the left would be opposed to waterboarding if it came to using it to extract information from an abortion clinic bomber?

It's like the two minute hate speeches from "1984" when everyone screams at Goldstein.  The left now seems to have two minute hate speeches for anyone who doesn't worship their left wing politics or says answers that pleases them.  Palin and Miss California will probably have their pictures all over left wing sites and the viewers scream hateful slogans at those pictures.

It is a culture war that the left wants.  The fact is Prez Hilton being a judge was a mistake. His question was loaded and unfair because as was proven as soon as he didn't get the answer he wanted...he had to cry about it and voted against Miss California. One could then make the case she was robbed of the crown unfairly and unjustly. She did nothing wrong. The founding fathers are rolling in their graves. This country was founded on respecting different views and having different people. Same thing happened with Sarah Palin and this is the same MSM and liberal crowd that is passing off Meghan McCain as a spokesperson for the conservatives when she does not speak for us and we don't want her. They can't tell us what to think and since their leader is Obama then there needs no further proof why people at Notre Dame are protesting him and the Tea Party Protests have begun. Add to it Obama's stances on religion and his policies and you see what we have... a culture war on America.

was busy.   Doin his latest gig as an auctioneer.

Yeah, I thought all butt pirate judges were on the Food Network.

How undemocratic of you. Why I'll bet you evan think a dog shouldn't judge a Miss Feline contest.

No one respects the blue collar until their car breaks down[somethin like that]-------Larry the cable guy

 first it's not the Miss America....it's Ms USA.....

difference...hotter slutier women

and you are right who's a better judge of hot women ...a gay man

FINALY A REAL CANDIATE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!

http://zod2008.com/index.htm

the lack of permanent snarl, for starters.

I love to help the helpless but I'm not gonna help the clueless   ~Dennis Miller